Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has beaten his teammate at each of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team ran a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber in third, 0.619secs behind the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
